Tech seek to ignore distractions in another rebound attempt

This time the stakes are similar: At the end of another long week of "soul-searching," the Texas Tech football team will be looking to save itself from its first two-game losing streak since 1998.

If it succeeds, the future is big. With a win in today's 1 p.m. home game against Iowa State, Tech will need two more wins in its last two games to earn a berth in the Big 12 Conference championship game Dec. 4.

If they lose, consider it to be the most tumultuous, harrowing week of the season for the schizophrenic Red Raiders (4-4, 3-2 Big 12).

It started with a wake-up call. After notching its first two-game winning streak of the season in more than a year, Tech got "embarrassed" in a 34-7 loss at Missouri last Saturday. Two days later, backup cornerback Derrick Briggs was arrested on drug-related charges. Two days after that, backup linebacker Dorian Pitts turned himself in to the authorities on similar accusations.

In the meantime, Tech was forced to try to use its same old tried-and-true formula for bouncing back: staying focused.

"Every week is the same," said Kevin Curtis, Tech's starting free safety and leading tackler with 105. "You can't think about the last game. You can't think about that again. You've gotta go out there and focus on the next opponent. You've got to have some soul-searching. If we want to win the Big 12 South Division like we say we do, we've got to go out there and play hard the next three games regardless."

Three straight times this season since a 31-13 loss at Arizona State on Sept. 6, Tech has proven itself capable of bouncing back to earth one week later.

No matter the injuries. No matter the criticism.

According to Tech head coach Spike Dykes, "distractions are distractions."

The goal, he said, has always remained the same.

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other week of 1999, Tech has never lost control of its destiny in its quest for a Big 12 crown.

Above all else, that fact alone has enabled its players to find the motivation they need to "just forget about" everything else that's happening around them.

"In the past, we've responded," said Rob Peters, senior starting quarterback of an offense that didn't score a touchdown last week. "We expect to do the same. It airs everything when you play like that (against Missouri). You have to refocus and put your heart back into it. You have to dedicate yourself to the program knowing that, if we win three more games, we're the South Division champions."

Step One starts against the Cyclones (4-4, 1-4). Three of their losses have been decided by seven points or less. Each of their last five games have come against teams that made postseason bowl appearances in 1998.

Their running game is ranked 10th in the nation (240 yards per game). Their running back, Darren Davis, is ranked first in the conference (145.5 yards per game).

You can say it again: Distractions are distractions.

"The main distraction is we've got to be better than we were against Missouri," said John Goodner, Tech's defensive coordinator. "The way we practiced this week, our kids understand that we better do better against the run with this bunch or we'll have a long day."

Last week in Columbia, Tech surrendered 165 yards on 45 carries against Missouri running back Zain Gilmore. Tech's rush defense fell to 62nd in the nation with 149.4 yards allowed per game.

The key to improvement today, Goodner said, is to "get to Davis before he gets to the open field and make sure we do it with more than one or two guys."

For ISU, which still hopes to make its first appearance in a bowl since 1978, the key is "starting strong," according to ISU head coach Dan McCarney.

"You get behind them at home and they're real hard to beat," McCarney said.